SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ALIGNING AN IMPLANTABLE ANTENNA

• US 20090228072A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Chen, Christine Hsin Yi, Thompson, Eric W., Ortiz, Mark S., Stokes, Michael J., Plescia, David N., Yates, David C., Felder, Kevin D., Coe, Jonathan A., Ezolino, Juan S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna

Abstract

An implantable restriction system having an antenna capable of being readily and predictably movable to achieve a desired orientation that is effective to communicate with an external device is provided. The antenna can be movably coupled to a housing such that the antenna can float and/or move freely with respect to the housing. The housing can be part of a gimbal element or another component of the system. The antenna can include a weight or a magnetic element to help it achieve the desired orientation. Methods for transcutaneously communicating with an implantable restriction device are also provided.

Claims

1. An implantable restriction system, comprising:

an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a pathway;

an implantable housing; and

an implantable antenna movably coupled to the housing such that the antenna can align with an external device for communicating therewith.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one magnetic element coupled to the antenna.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one magnetic element is configured to align with an external magnetic member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is movable in response to at least one of manual manipulation, a magnetic force, an electromagnetic force, a gravitational force, and a buoyant force.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an implantable sensor configured to measure at least one of an operational value of a system parameter and a value of a physiological parameter, wherein the antenna is effective to communicate the operational value or the physiological value to the external device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the antenna is disposed on a sensor housing that is movably mounted to a base housing that is configured to engage an anatomical location.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the antenna is statically mounted upon the sensor housing.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the housing is movably mounted to the base housing by way of a ball and socket joint.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is at least a portion of a gimbal element such that the antenna is free to rotate about a first axis and the antenna is also free to rotate about a second axis, the first axis being substantially orthogonal to the second axis.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is coupled to a weight that is effective to enable a gravitational force to align the antenna in a desired orientation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the antenna contains an element effective to enable a gravitational force to align the antenna in a desired orientation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the element is comprised of a weight.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is effective to communicate with the external device to transcutaneously deliver energy to power the device to the antenna.

14. An implantable restriction system, comprising:

an implantable gastric restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient;

an implantable sensor configured to measure at least one of a value of a system parameter and a physiological parameter; and

an implantable antenna in communication with the implantable sensor, the implantable antenna configured to communicate with an external device and to be capable of achieving an effective orientation to enable the antenna to communicate with the external device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the antenna is movable to the effective orientation in response to at least one of manual manipulation, a magnetic force, an electromagnetic force, a gravitational force, and a buoyant force.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the antenna is movably coupled to a housing.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the antenna is statically mounted to a housing which in turn is movably mated to a base housing.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the implantable antenna is coupled to a housing wherein the housing is at least a portion of a gimbal element such that the antenna is free to rotate about a first axis and the antenna is also free to rotate about a second axis, the first axis being substantially orthogonal to the second axis.

19. A method for transcutaneously communicating with an implantable restriction system, comprising:

implanting a restriction system within a patient such that the system includes a device effective to form a restriction in a pathway and an antenna effective to communicate with an external device to receive and transmit at least one of energy and data; and

enabling the antenna to be movable with respect to at least a portion of a housing such that the antenna can align with the external device for communicating therewith.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna aligns with the external device in a desired orientation in response to at least one of manual manipulation, a magnetic force, an electromagnetic force, a gravitational force, and a buoyant force.